Fibro can cause pain anywhere, and it can travel around your body. It can be aching, sharp, or burning pain. I have what we used to call the pain of the week, it seems a certain place will hurt me for about a week, then somewhere else will start hurting.

I also have fibromyalgia, and my knees are arthritic from many years of dancing/teaching/performing. When you're dancing you end up dancing with pain and dealing with the injuries later... much later, usually. I had to stop teaching about 15 years ago, because it just hurt too much. I settled with workers comp for medical benefits, and ended up working with computers for my "second" career. I find sitting for any length of time hurts my knees the most, and I have a "stand up" area in my office that I use to work on some of the computers. I'm a network administrator, which means my and my work partner handle all the computers (over 200) and printers and toner orders and replacements for starters. I am still able to work fulltime, which I am grateful for. I'm was divorced at 51 and this was the first time I had ever lived alone and actually had to take care of myself financially.

It has been a big adjustment, but I am so glad to know I can really take care of myself. When I got full time nearly 4 years ago I got insurance and benefits. I started making doctor's appointments like a madwomen.

I have had MRI's on both knees and just got a knee brace from my pain management doctor last Tuesday. It is not stiff and unyielding like I was afraid it would be. I wore it all day Tuesday and my knee felt supported and was not as painful. You only wear it when you're up and around. I wear pants to work and I was wearing my palazzo style (wide roomy legs... so comfy like PJ's) when I got the brace, so I'll have to put it on and see if I can slide my pants OVER it.

There are some gentle exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles that support the knee. All you do is bend your leg at the knee about 6 inches (where else would it bend??? ) and then straighten it without locking the knee... do it very gently. You can do this sitting in a chair or lying down, and after a few reps you should feel the quadracep muscle above your knee begin to tighten up. You want to do it several times a day until your quad starts to feel tight and a little tired. Just don't overly straighten your leg. Some people have a slight hyperextension to the knee, and it is possible to over stretch the back of the leg at the knee so it appears to bow out rather than have a slight bend. This is a great line for dancers. I don't have it, but it can cause problems later in life.

Sorry, didn't mean to write a novella. Love your handle "painismymiddlename". I know we all feel that way at times. And rather than getting a fancy knee brace, the ones they have at drugstores that slip over your leg, ususally leaving the knee uncovered, can be very helpful, as long as they fit properly.

Hello MIMMN: I've had fibro for over 25 yrs. It has frequently been in my knees. I keep thinking I've done something to hurt them but then remember the fibro. I had a meniscus repair on one knee which helped and the other knee now hurts more but does not need a repair. Also, most of us over 45-50 have some degree of arthritis in our knees so that might be part of it. I agree with the others as I get a "pain of the week or month" Right now it's in my hips. Sometimes its in my hands or shoulders. I do find that if I force myself to walk several times a week it does help. Hard to do sometimes because you have to work through the fatigue and pain. Just keep moving or it will get worse. Peace. BRuthD